The Regional Implementing Decree amending the Structure of the XI Government of the Azores was published today in the Official Gazette. It comprises the new Regional Secretariats for Education and Culture; for the Sea, Science and Technology, and the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs.

The Decree now published was approved by the Council of the Government on July 8. On the same day, the new members of the Government were sworn-in before the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

With this organisational restructuring, the Government of the Azores comprises the departments of the Presidency of the Government, which includes the Regional Assistant Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations; the Vice-Presidency, Employment and Business Competitiveness; the Regional Secretariat for Social Solidarity; the Regional Secretariat for Health; the Regional Secretariat for Education and Culture; the Regional Secretariat for Tourism and Transport; the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology and the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and the Environment.

With regard to the powers of the new departments, Avelino Meneses will oversee the areas of Education and Initial Vocational Training, including the supervision of vocational training schools, as well as the areas of Culture and Sport.

In turn, Fausto Brito e Abreu will supervise the areas of Fisheries and Aquaculture, oceanographic exploration and deep-sea exploration licensing, coastal areas, cooperation with the Maritime Policy, Science and Technology, Information Society and Relations with the University of the Azores and other higher education institutions.

Besides Parliamentary Affairs, Isabel Almeida Rodrigues will head the areas of Youth, Media, Institutional Communication, Legistics and the Official Journal.

Moreover, the organisational restructuring provides the creation of the Regional Directorate for Science and Technology on the island of São Miguel. This body will be under the administration of the Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology. It also provides the creation of the Regional Directorate for Rural Development, headquartered on the island of Terceira, for the monitoring of Community programmes.

The Regional Directorate for Public Works, Technology and Communications will be further designated as Regional Directorate for Public Works and Communications, and the Regional Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development will be now designated as Regional Directorate for Agriculture.